Bhubaneswar: A special vigilance court in Odisha’s Baragada has sentenced senior Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer Govinda Dandasena to three years of rigorous imprisonment in connection with a two-decade-old bribery case.
The 59-year-old, who currently serves as the Executive Officer of the Rajgangpur Municipality in Sundaragada district, was convicted for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 700 from a landowner in 2006 to process a land mutation case during his tenure as the Additional Tehsildar of Bijepur in Baragada district.
The Special Judge (Vigilance) convicted Dandasena under Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) and 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, after examining witnesses and relevant documents, handing down a three-year term of rigorous imprisonment alongside a fine of ₹20,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in an extended period of imprisonment as stipulated by the court’s order.
Following the court’s verdict, Odisha Vigilance announced that it will move the competent authority to initiate formal proceedings for Dandasena’s dismissal from government service. Dandasena is scheduled to retire in March 2027.